Prong guiding means in machines for forming loop fasteners on wirebound boxes



Dec. 6, 1960 D. G. KINGSLEY 2,963,050

PRONG GUIDING MEANS IN MACHINES FOR FORMING LOOP FASTENERS 0N WIREBOUND BOXES Filed March 27, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR 17/: W0 6. K/N65LE) ATTORNEYS D. G. KINGSLEY PRONG GUIDING MEANS IN MACHINES FOR FORMING Dec. 6, 1960 LOOP FASTENERS ON WIREBOUND' BOXES Filed March 27, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' FIG. 2.

wwmmx L155? l Ei 2% i r 5 N E o v .ST N .6 M man A PM Dec. 6, 1960 D. G. KINGSLEY 6 PRONG GUIDING MEANS IN MACHINES FOR FORMING LOOP FASTENERS 0N WIREBOUND BOXES Filed March 27, 1957 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v1 M All! m 5 h i 5 5E: v, WM Z M 6 4 I0 =l::: r 2 E l 4 \\M& v K 7. W A all; m Y Z 6. F W VP M a, v M I it I I IL 4 7 0 a 5 4 w 5 w c 6 M M J Uc U .M 0 Z M 2 M I 1 iwfi H s. Q Q. i F "I I 5 w, 7 0 0 w w 6 United States PatentO PRONG GUIDING MEANS IN MACHINES FOR FORMING LOOP FASTENERS ON WIREBOUND BOXES David G. Kingsley, Mountain Lakes. N.J., assignor to Staping Machines C0., Rockaway, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 648,922

Claims. (Cl. 140-93) This application relates to means for guiding the prongs which are driven to secure loop fasteners on wirebound boxes.

The invention is an improvement in loop fastener machines of the general type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 1,933,031. Such machines are employed to form loop fasteners on wirebound box and crate blanks of the general type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 1,933,030. These box and crate blanks are customarily formed in stapling machines of the general type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,482,370 in which properly assembled side material or slats and reinforcing cleats are conveyed by continuously moving conveyor bands beneath stapling units which drive staples astride longitudinally extending binding wires, through the side material or slats and into the cleates to form a continuous succession of wirebound box blanks each comprising several, usually four, box sections or sides foldably secured together by the binding wires. This continuous succession of box blanks is then fed into aloop fastener machine of the type referred to above. In the loop fastener machine, the binding wires are severed in the interval between adjacent box blanks, and the binding wires are bent to form prongs in the resulting end portions of the severed binding wires. The binding wires are again bent to form loops in the binding wires and to place the prongs over the adjacent edge portions of the side material of the box blanks. The loops are then secured by driving the prongs through the side material and clinching them over against the undersurface thereof. When the box blank is folded around to set up the box, the two loop fasteners at opposite ends of each of the binding wires come into opposition at the closing corner of the box and one of these loops, being somewhat narrower than the other, is inserted through the latter and bent down against the outer surface of the box to secure the box closed.

Heretofore, there has been considerable difficulty in the driving of the prongs through the side material of the box blank, particularly where the binding wire was of a relatively light gauge or where the side material of the box blank was formed of a relatively hard wood. Under these conditions, there was a tendency for the prong to buckle rather than to penetrate the side material of the box blank. This, of course, either resulted in a cull or reject, or necessitated that the prong be driven subsequently by hand. In either event, the cost of production of the box or crate blanks was increased. 1 t

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide in the loop fastener machine means for guiding and laterally supporting the prongs to prevent their buckling as they are driven through the side material of the box blank. Another object is that of providing such an apparatus which is simple and economicalin construction, which is reliable in operation, and which may be readily incorporated in loop fastener machine of conice ventional type without substantial reconstruction thereof. Additional objects will be apparent hereinafter.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through a loop fastener machine of the general type disclosed in said U.S. Patent'No. 1,933,031, which includes prong guiding mechanism embodying principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the machine, showing one of the prong driving assemblies.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure 2, as viewed in a direction at right angles to that of Figure 2, with certain parts being shown broken away to reveal the inner construction of the mechanism.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 3 at a later stage of the prong driving cycle of the machine, the view also showing the prong clinching mechanism beneath the side material of the box blank.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the lines 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of Figure 3, but showing the mechanism at a later stage of the prong driving cycle.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the mechanism as it appears in the upward return stroke of the prong driving assembly.

Figure 8 is an enlarged diagrammatic View showing the positions of the prong driver and the prong guiding means relative to the binding wire at the stage where the prong driver has just engaged the knuckle of the prong and is commencing the prong driving stroke.

In the loop fastener machine, as illustrated in Figure l, the continuous succession of box blanks B moves through the machine at the level indicated by broken lines, the box blanks being supported on a table generally designated T and driven by means of belts (not shown) which engage the lateral edges of the box blanks. When the succession of box blanks reaches the position at which the binding wires W in the interval between adjacent box blanks is properly positioned between the wire-cutting and prong forming elements F, as shown in broken lines in Figure 1, the movement of the box blanks is momentarily stopped and the table T is lowered to the position shown in full lines. The center cross bar A is then lowered to cause the Wire cutting and prong forming elements F to sever the binding wires W and to form prongs P on each of the resulting cut wire ends. Then the spindles S are rotated to bend the wires and form loops therein and place the prongs P over the adjacent edges of the side material M of the box blanks B. The outer cross bars E are then driven downwardly to cause the prong driving assemblies D to drive the prongs P through the side material M and to cause the clinchers C to clinch the prongs over against the under surface thereof. Then the table T is again raised and the belts are again started to move the completed box blanks out of the loop fastener machine.

The remaining figures of the drawings show in greater detail one of the prong driving assemblies with its prong guiding elements which guide the prongs as they are driven through the side material to prevent buckling of the prongs due to the light gauge of the binding Wire or the hardness of the wood of which the side material is 3 member 18 in the general form of an inverted U which is secured to the support member by bolts 20 (see also Figure A set of four bolts 24 and nuts 25 is used to secure at one face of the channel member 18 a fixed side plate 26 and at its other face a cam plate 28. As may be seen in Figures 3 and 7, the openings 28a in the cam plate 28 through which the bolts 24 pass are elongated, to permit limited vertical movement of the cam plate 28 relative to the driver assembly. Coil springs 30 encircling the shanks of the bolts 24 are compressed between the heads of the bolts and the outer face of the cam plate 28 to maintain the cam plate yieldably against the adjacent face of the channel 18 while permitting vertical movement of the cam plate in the manner described.

The cam plate 28 is normally pressed to its extreme downward position relative to the driving assembly, at which position it is shown in Figures 3 and 7, by means of coil springs 31 which are compressed between the end walls of opposed openings in the upper edge of the cam plate 28, in which openings the springs are partially received and by which they are laterally positioned. v

Extending between the lower ends of the two d'own wardly directed legs of the channel member 18 is a relatively thin driver blade 22 which is secured to the channel member 18 by means of the bolts 24 which extend through holes 22a (Figure 8) in the opposite ends of the driver blade.

Slidably housed within the rectangular recess 33 formed between the legs of the channel 18 and between the plates 26 and 28 is a guide member 32 which is fixed at the lower end of an elongated cylindrical rod 34. This rod 34 extends slidably through a vertical hole in the support member 10, with its upper end extending into a slot a in the upper end of the support.

The rod 34 and guide member 32 are urged downwardly by means of a coil spring 35 which encircles the rod 34 and is compressed between the upper end of the guide member 32 and the end wall of a recess 10b formed in the support 10. As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the guide member 32 is provided with a vertical slot 32a which allows it to straddle the driver blade 22. The downward movement of the guide member 32 under the influence of the spring 35 is limited by engagement of the upper end of this slot 32a with the upper edge of the driver blade 22, as shown in Figure 3.

Extending downwardly from one side of the guide member 32 is a fixed guide plate 37, while at the other side of. the guide member 32 a movable guide plate 36 is pivotally mounted on a pin 38 which extends through openings 36a (Figure 8) in two spaced legs 36b at the upper end of the movable guide plate 36 and through a tab 321) (Figure 5) which extends downwardly from the lower end of the guide member 32 into the space between the two legs 36b. The movable guide plate 36 is urged to rotate away from the fixed guide plate 37 to its normal position in which it is shown in full lines in Figures 2 and 3 by a coil spring 40 which encircles the pin 38, the two legs of the spring respectively extending into holes in the movable guide plate 36 and in the guide member 32.

This is the relative position of the parts when the prong driving assembly is at its upper retracted position and during the first portionof its downward stroke. When the fixed guide plate 37 engages the upper face of the side material M of the box blank, which is supported on the upper plates U of the staple clinchers C, and as the cross bar E continues its downward stroke, the guide member 32 is telescoped into the channel member 18 against the resistance of the spring 35. The lower edge 28b of the cam plate 28 engages the upper surface of the movable guide plate 36, swinging it inwardly towards the fixed guide plate 37 against the resistance of the spring 40. As the movable guide plate 36 sweeps in wardly, it engages the binding wire W and the prong P at the end thereof and presses them over against the inner face of the fixed guide plate 37, directly beneath the lower edge of the driver blade 22, as shown in broken lines in Figure 3.

From an inspection of Figure 3, it may be seen that the lower edge 28b of the cam plate 28 is slightly below the lower edge of the driver blade 22. Thus, the cam plate 28 engages the movable guide plate 36 and moves it inwardly to closed position, as shown in broken lines in Figure 3, before the driver blade 22 passes the pivotal axis of the movable guide plate 36. This insures that the binding wire W and the prong P will be placed beneath the lower edge of the driver blade 22 and eliminates the possibility that they could instead be clamped between the movable guide plate 36 and the adjacent face of the driver blade 22. When the driver blade 22 moves down to the positio'ii' shown in Figures 5 and 6, at which the prong P is driven fully through the side material M of the box blank, the lower edge 28b of the cam plate 28 comes into engagement with the upper face of the side material M, and the cam plate 28 is pushed upwardly against the resistance of the springs 31, the vertical slots 28a in the cam plate 28 accommodating this vertical movement.

As shown in Figure 8, the inner face of the movable guide plate 36 is provided with a plurality of vertical ridges 36c which are spaced apart such distance that the prong P of the binding wire can be received snugly between any pair of adjacent ridges. Thus, the prong P is supported against buckling in the plane of the binding wire W, as well as in the plane perpendicular thereto.

As the cross bar E and the driver assembly continue their downward movement, the lower edge of the driver blade 22 will engage the knuckle of the prong P and drive it downwardly through the side material M of the box blank, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

As best shown in Figure 8, the lower edge of the driver blade 22 is provided with a series of spaced, transverse ridges 22b which bite into the knuckle of the prong to resist longitudinal movement of the binding wire relative to the driver blade. This further tends to prevent buckling of the prong as it is driven.

As the prong P is driven through the side material M of the box blank, the binding wire W moves downwardly past the ridges 360 on the movable guide plate 36. The edges of the ridges 36c are relatively sharp so that the ridges will bite into the binding wire and allow it to move lengthwise of the ridges without forcing apart the guide plates 34 and 36 and causing the ridges to become disengaged from the prong,

As shown in Figure 5, the face of the driver blade 22 adjacent the movable guide plate 36 is provided with a series of vertical grooves 22c which mesh with the ridges 360 .on the inner face of the movable guide plate. This prevents interference of the ridges 36c with the driver blade 22 and allows the driver blade to be made as thick as the spacing between the inner faces of the fixed guide plate 37 and the movable guide plate 36.

Projecting from the lower edge of the fixed guide plate 37 are a pair of short, tapered prongs 37a (Figure 2). These prongs 37a are not so sharp that they will penetrate the wooden side material M during the first portion of the downward stroke of the cross bar E and driver assembly D when the guide member 32 and the fixed guide plate 37 are urged downwardly only by the force of the spring 35. This insures clearance between the outer end of the movable guide plate 36 and the upper face of the side material M when the movable guide blade swings downwardly into closed position adjacent the fixed guide plate 37, as shown in broken lines in Figure 3. However, at the point when the prong P is driven fully through the side material M, as shown in Figure 5, the upper end of the guide assembly 32 is engaged by the upper end of the rectangular recess 33 in the channel member 18, preventing further upward hidvement of the guide member 32 relative to the channel member 18. As the driver assembly continues downwardly past this point, the prongs 37a on the fixed guide plate 37 will be embedded in the wooden side material As may be seen in Figure 3, the lower edge 34b bf the fixed guide plate 37 between the prongs 37a is at the same level as the outer end 36d of the movable guide plate 36 when the movable guide plate is in its closed position, shown in broken lines. Thus, during the final portion of the downward stroke of the cross bar E and the driver assembly, when considerable pressure is being exerted on the side material M of the box blank, the box blank is engaged with equal force at both sides of the binding wire W, which tends to prevent cracking or breaking of the side material.

As the cross bar E and the driver assembly continue their downward movement, the box blank is driven bodily downward by compression of the springs G which yieldably support the upper plate U of the clincher C. This brings the prong P downward into forceable engagement with the clincher block H. Moreover, as the upper plate U of each of the clinchers C is driven downwardly, the inclined surfaces 1, on the lower extension of the upper clincher plate U, cooperating with the inclined surfaces I of the lower portion of the clincher bar H cause the clincher bar H to move to the left, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6, against the resistance of the spring I, so that the prong P will be bent over. The final portion of the downward movement clinches the prong P and at least partially imbeds it into the undersurface of the side material M of the box blank. This completes the prong driving and clinching stroke of the machine.

The rod 34 which is attached to the guide member 32 is provided at its upper end with an enlarged head 34a adapted for cooperation with a latch 42 (Figure 7) which is pivoted on a pin 44 at the upper end of the support 10 and which is urged in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 7, by a coil spring 46 compressed between the upper end of the support 10 and an arm 42a extending horizontally from the upper end of the latch 42. The lower end of the latch 42 is provided with an inclined surface 42b which cooperates with an inclined surface 34b at the upper end of the rod 34 to cam the latch 42 in a clockwise direction to open position, as shown in broken lines in Figure 7, when the support 10 moves downwardly relative to the guide member 32 and rod 34. When the support 10 reaches it lowermost position relative to the guide member 32 and rod 34, the spring 46 will rock the latch 42 back in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in full lines in Figure 7, at which the latch is engaged beneath the head 34a of the rod 34. Thus, as the cross bar E and the support 10 thereon are again moved upwardly on their return stroke, the guide member 32 moves upwardly with them out of engagement with the box blanks B, so that movement of the box blanks may be resumed immediately.

When the cross bar E and the driver assembly reach their uppermost, fully retracted position, the arm 42a on the latch 42 engages one of the fixed cross bars 48 at the top of the machine, pressing the latch 42 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 7, to the unlatching position shown in broken lines in that figure. This releases the rod 34, allowing the spring 36 to move the rod 34 and the guide member 32 downwardly relative to the support 10 to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. A coil spring 50 encircling the rod 34 above the main portion of the support 10 cushions the impact of the guide member 32 against the driver blade 22 at the lower extreme of this downward movement. This completes the prong driving cycle, and readies the machine for the next succeeding cycle, which is merely a repetition of the one just described.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the apparatus of the present invention provides support for the prong on all sides as it is driven, thereby avoiding the tendency to buckling of the prong due to the use of light gauge wire or hard wood. The apparatus balanced forces thereto is, for all practical purposes, sub-,'

stantially eliminated. It will thus be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objectives have been achieved. However, it should be emphasized that the, particular embodiment of the invention which is shown and described herein is intended as merely illustrative ofthe principles of the invention rather than as exhaustive thereof or as restrictive of the coverage of this patent, which is limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for forming loop fasteners on wirebound box parts, improved guide means for guiding the wire prong which is driven by a reciprocable prong driver through the side material of the box to secure the loop fastener, said guide means comprising a pair of guiding members mounted at opposite sides of said prong driver,

binding wire adjacent said prong and permit said driver to drive said horizontal portion past said ridges and against the outer face of the box blank without separation of said guiding members to an extent sufiicient to cause disengagement of said ridges from said prong.

2. In a machine for forming loop fasteners on wirebound box parts, a support reciprocable toward and from said box part in prong-driving and return strokes, a prong driver mounted on said support for engagement with one of the binding wires on the box part to drive the prong at the end thereof through the side material of the box part, a guide assembly mounted on said support for vertical movement relative thereto, yieldable means urging said guide assembly toward the box part, .a fixed guide member mounted on said guide assembly at one side of said driver, a movable guide member mounted on said guide assembly at the other side of said driver for pivotal movement toward and from said fixed guide member about an axis located below the outer edge of said prong driver, a cam mounted on said support for reciprocation relative thereto, yieldable means urging said cam toward said box part, said cam being arranged to engage said movable guide member and cam it inwardly toward said fixed guide member during the first portion of the downward movement of said support relative to said guide assembly and before the outer edge of said prong driver has passed the pivoted end of said movable guide member.

3. In a machine for forming loop fasteners on wirebound box parts, a support reciprocable toward and from said box part in prong-driving and return strokes, a prong driver mounted on said support for engagement with one of the binding wires on the box part to drive the prong at the end thereof through the side material of the box part, a guide assembly mounted on said support for vertical movement relative thereto, yieldable means urging said guide assembly toward the box part, a fixed guide member mounted on said guide assembly at one side of said driver, a movable guide member mounted on said guide assembly at the other side of said driver for pivotaldriver, a cam mounted on said support for reciprocation relative thereto, yieldable means urging said cam toward said box part, said cam being arranged to engage said movable guide member and cam it inwardly toward said fixed guide member during the first portion of the downward movement of said support relative to said guide assembly and before the outer edge of said prong driver has passed the pivoted end of said movable guide membet and at least one of said guiding members being provided at its inner face, with at least two generally parallel vertical ridges projecting beyond said inner face and spaced apart to receive between them the prong on said binding wire.

4. In a machine for forming loop fasteners on wirebound box parts, a support reciprocable toward and from said box part in prong-driving and return strokes, a prong driver mounted on said support for engagement with one of the binding wires on the box part to drive the prong at the end thereof through the side material of the box part, a clincher plate supporting said box part, said clincher plate being mounted for vertical movement, spring means urging said clincher plate upwardly, a prong clincher beneath said box part adjacent said clincher plate for clinching said prong against the under surface of the box part, when said box part is pressed downwardly to cause downward movement of said clincher plate against the resistance of said spring means, a guide assembly mounted on said support for vertical movement relative thereto, yieldable means urging said guide assembly toward the box part, a fixed guide member mounted on said guide assembly at one side of said driver and having at its outer edge one or more projections adapted to be imbedded into the side material of the box part only during the final, prong-clinching portion of the prong-driving stroke of said support, a movable guide member mounted on said guide assembly at the other side of said driver for pivotal movement toward and from said fixed guide member, the outer edge of said movable guide member being in approximate alignment with the portion of the outer edgeof said fixed guide member between said projections, and a cam surface on said support arranged to engage said movable guide member when said support moves downwardly relative to said guide assembly, and to cam said movable guide member toward said fixed guide member to cause them to embrace said binding wire.

5. In a machine for forming loop fasteners on wirebound box parts, a support reciprocable toward and from said box part in prong-driving and return strokes, a prong driver mounted on said support for engagement with one of the binding wires on the box part to drive the prong at the end thereof through the side material of the box part, a clincher plate supporting said box part, said clincher plate being mounted for vertical movement, spring means urging said clincher plate upwardly, a prong clincher beneath said box part adjacent said clincher plate for climbing said prong against the under surface of the box part, when said box part is pressed downwardly to cause downward movement of said cli'ncher' plate against the resistance of said spring means, a guide assembly mounted on said support for vertical movement relative thereto, yieldable means urging said guide assembly toward the box part, a fixed guide member mounted on said guide assembly at one side of said driver and having at its outer edge one or more projections adapted to be imbedded into the side material of the box part only during the final, prong-clinching portion of the prong-driving stroke of said support, a movable guide member mounted on said guide assembly at the other side of said driver for pivotal movement toward and from said fixed guide member, the outer edge of said movable guide member being in approximate alignment with the portion of the outer edge of said fixed guide member between said projections, a-cam surface on said support arrangedto' engage said movable guide member when said support moves downwardly relative to said guide assembly, and to cam said movable guide member toward said fixed guide member to cause them to embrace said binding wire, and at least one of said guiding members being provided at its inner 'face with at least two generally parallel vertical ridges projecting beyond said inner face and spaced apart to receive between them the prong on said binding wire.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,853,633 Newhouse Apr. 12, 1932 1,904,384 Newhouse Apr. 18, 1933 2,024,188 Rosenmund et al Dec. 17, 1935 2,460,846 Schulze Feb. 8, 1949 2,547,514 Woodbury Apr. 3, 1951 2,716,750 Biblis Sept. 6, -5

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,963,050 December 6," 1960 David (30 Kingsley It is hereby certified'that error appears in the above numbered paten't requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 34, for Uport" read portion Signed and sealed this 27th day of June 1961,

(SEAL) Attest: I

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

